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Don't look now, but here come the Phillies! Philadelphia will be seeking a fifth consecutive victory as they continue a rare five-game series against the Washington Nationals on Saturday. It is time to take an inclusive look at our MLB odds series, where our Phillies-Nationals prediction and pick will be revealed.
Somebody call the fire department because the Phillies are a raging wildfire that cannot be contained. Needing all eight runs to overcome the Nationals on Friday in the 8-7 victory, Philadelphia is now 35-31 and is now eight games back of the division lead. Looking to make it four in a row against the ‘Nats, righty Aaron Nola will be up to the challenge in shutting down Washington with his 4-4 record and 3.42 ERA.
Washington has fallen on hard times, but they can't afford to leave their heads hanging. In an attempt to snap a seven-game losing streak, the Nationals will call upon another fellow righty in Josiah Gray, who is 6-4 with a 4.33 ERA.
Here are the Phillies-Nationals MLB odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
MLB Odds: Phillies-Nationals Odds
Philadephia Phillies: -1.5 (-134)
Washington Nationals: +1.5 (+112)
Over: 8.5 (-118)
Under: 8.5 (-104)
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Why The Phillies Could Cover the Spread
The Phillies' turnaround over the past couple of weeks has been nothing short of miraculous, as Philadelphia has gone from a possible division bottom dweller to a possible playoff-contending team. While there is still a way for the Phillies to reach their ultimate goal of becoming championship contenders, Philadelphia is showcasing incredible focus on the task at hand. With a game-by-game approach, the Phillies have been able to give it their all on that given day as they don't get too low or high on themselves.
No one could've predicted the winning explosion that has taken place in the City of Brotherly Love. In fact, the Phillies have been so good out on the diamond that they now have the second-most runs scored in the entire league. The bottom line, Philadelphia has won a boatload of games thanks to an offense that has many talents as anyone in baseball. On the other side of things, Washington has pitched their way to the bottom of the division, so consider this matchup as a huge advantage for the Phillies.
The biggest concern if the Phillies have any whatsoever is a sense of fatigue that the pitchers may feel on Saturday after both sides participated in a doubleheader yesterday. This makes Aaron Nola's start that much more important, as the Phillies hurler is 6-7 with a 4.35 earned-run average and 158 strikeouts in 24 career appearances.
Why The Nationals Could Cover the Spread
There is a saying that a broken clock is right twice a day, and the Nationals are hoping that today's matchup versus the Phillies can be one of those times. Both of these squads could not be on further ends of the spectrum, as Philadelphia has become addicted to coming out on top while the Nationals continue to sink deeper and deeper into disparity. It has no question been a tough time during the 2022 season for the ‘Nats, but they have to win eventually right?
Alright, so maybe even that is asking too much from Washington. Without sounding disrespectful of course, that is unfortunately a fair assessment. Regardless, Washington does not necessarily need to win to cover the spread, and if they can keep it close throughout, then the Nationals are certainly capable of getting the job done.
Bright spots have come very minimally in 2022, but if the Nationals want to cover the spread this afternoon, they are gonna have to pitch. Just when you think this roster was bad enough, take one glimpse at this starting staff and bullpen and an individual may start feeling nauseous. All jokes aside, Washington actually has demonstrated that they can hit the ball, so even just a slight sign of life from the rubber could go a long way.
The Phillies surely have their fair share of left-handed bats, which is something that RHP Josiah Gray has struggled with in letting lefties take advantage of him. Gray has yielded a .889 OPS against such hitters, so working the outside of the zone and staying away from the heart of the zone when approaching guys like Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber will be critical.
Final Phillies-Nationals Prediction & Pick
The Washington Nationals were able to cover the spread yesterday against the ‘Phils, but asking them to do that in back-to-back days is asking a lot. Philadelphia still managed to muster up eight runs on Friday, and it should be almost a certified guarantee that the Phillies will be able to have success in that department yet again. Don't overthink this one, stick to your gut.
Final Phillies-Nationals Prediction & Pick: Phillies -1.5 (-134)
